1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play begins June 3, 1943 in Los Angeles, California. The people involved are a group of kids called the 38th Street Gang, lead by Henry Reynas and his imaginary alter ego, El Pachuco. The group of young adults/teenagers are dancing together, dressed in Pachuco and Pachuca clothes.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when the police infiltrate the party and reveal that all of the guys in the gang are being arrested for a murder at Sleepy Lagoon, that happened before the play began and set the plot for the rest of the play.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play takes place during a time in history where the Zoot Suit was prevalent in social standing for Mexican-Americans. This time in history was a point when there were many ill-feelings toward immigrants, specifically hispanic and latino immigrants. The Mexican population was the biggest, so they were targeted and the most stereotyped. Many in big cities traveled in gangs and dressed a certain way, so it was easy for any racists on the home front to make up any reason to arrest them, solely based on their appearance. The public wanted an enemy, so they turned the Mexican Americans into the enemy, which caused a social revolution against racism and wrongful treatment.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will the boys be released? Were any of them the actual murderers? These questions build up and remain until the very last section, when the boys are released from jail. None of them admitted to the murder, so it is still unknown who did it and how the man was killed.
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
In a way, Henry is against himself the entire time, as El Pachuco represents his alter ego. It's an ongoing battle between looking tough and standing against the power, or letting others represent him to get him out. He learns to work against his temper. Against another individual, Henry seems to have mini battles throughout the play. From not being able to trust George, to fighting Rafas, and having the guard send him to solidarity, Henry has conflicts throughout the play. The whole play is mostly based around Henry's conflict with society, and how the stereotypes they have placed on him have worked against his favor in wrongfully convicting him for crimes repeatedly based on his race and how he dresses.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
There are many theatrical moments throughout the play. First would be the intrusion, when the boys are arrested. Another important moment would be when the boys meet George Shearer and learn to trust him, because he ends up playing a key role in their case. Later, when Henry is in jail and kisses Alice, it gives a different twist to the story. Finally, the boys are released from jail and Rudy tells Henry about what happened when he was stripped of his zoot suit.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first image we are given is at the very beginning, when El Pachuco is introduced, cutting through the newspaper. The author is very descriptive in his actions and what he is wearing to give the full effect of this character that represents the Zoot Suiter population. Later, we see the boys in a makeshift jail of newspaper piles and carts for cots. This gives the effect of a worn down jail, while focusing more on the boys and what they're going through rather than just the artistry of the setting. Finally, we get the imagery of celebration, with confetti made of ripped up newspaper throughout the play. The newspaper was a repeated image that reminded us of the issues at hand and how society was constantly reminded of the zoot suit stereotype. The confetti represented the end of this stereotype and the start of a new age for the Mexican Americans.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
The biggest theme in the play is anti-racism. The play takes us deep into the corruption of a racist society and how the oppressed must act to stop it. Another theme is the importance of self image, as Henry is at war with the face he feels like he has to put on, and the face everyone else expects him to put on. Lastly, the play gives us a theme of the importance of community, as Henry as a large group of friends and family that support each other through tough times, and expand when they meet people like George and Alice who work to understand and help them.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Without family, it's almost like Henry and the boys had no other motivation to get out of jail. Henry's family is very close knit, and he seems to be rather obedient and protective of his family, as he watches out for Lupe and Rudy. Dolores seems to be a mother figure to all, even welcoming Della into her home. Henry's family seems to be his voice of reason and he strives to make them proud, while Smiley leaves for Arizona so he can take care of his family.
The play begins June 3, 1943 in Los Angeles, California. The people involved are a group of kids called the 38th Street Gang, lead by Henry Reynas and his imaginary alter ego, El Pachuco. The group of young adults/teenagers are dancing together, dressed in Pachuco and Pachuca clothes.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when the police infiltrate the party and reveal that all of the guys in the gang are being arrested for a murder at Sleepy Lagoon, that happened before the play began and set the plot for the rest of the play.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play takes place during a time in history where the Zoot Suit was prevalent in social standing for Mexican-Americans. This time in history was a point when there were many ill-feelings toward immigrants, specifically hispanic and latino immigrants. The Mexican population was the biggest, so they were targeted and the most stereotyped. Many in big cities traveled in gangs and dressed a certain way, so it was easy for any racists on the home front to make up any reason to arrest them, solely based on their appearance. The public wanted an enemy, so they turned the Mexican Americans into the enemy, which caused a social revolution against racism and wrongful treatment.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will the boys be released? Were any of them the actual murderers? These questions build up and remain until the very last section, when the boys are released from jail. None of them admitted to the murder, so it is still unknown who did it and how the man was killed.
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
In a way, Henry is against himself the entire time, as El Pachuco represents his alter ego. It's an ongoing battle between looking tough and standing against the power, or letting others represent him to get him out. He learns to work against his temper. Against another individual, Henry seems to have mini battles throughout the play. From not being able to trust George, to fighting Rafas, and having the guard send him to solidarity, Henry has conflicts throughout the play. The whole play is mostly based around Henry's conflict with society, and how the stereotypes they have placed on him have worked against his favor in wrongfully convicting him for crimes repeatedly based on his race and how he dresses.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
There are many theatrical moments throughout the play. First would be the intrusion, when the boys are arrested. Another important moment would be when the boys meet George Shearer and learn to trust him, because he ends up playing a key role in their case. Later, when Henry is in jail and kisses Alice, it gives a different twist to the story. Finally, the boys are released from jail and Rudy tells Henry about what happened when he was stripped of his zoot suit.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first image we are given is at the very beginning, when El Pachuco is introduced, cutting through the newspaper. The author is very descriptive in his actions and what he is wearing to give the full effect of this character that represents the Zoot Suiter population. Later, we see the boys in a makeshift jail of newspaper piles and carts for cots. This gives the effect of a worn down jail, while focusing more on the boys and what they're going through rather than just the artistry of the setting. Finally, we get the imagery of celebration, with confetti made of ripped up newspaper throughout the play. The newspaper was a repeated image that reminded us of the issues at hand and how society was constantly reminded of the zoot suit stereotype. The confetti represented the end of this stereotype and the start of a new age for the Mexican Americans.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
The biggest theme in the play is anti-racism. The play takes us deep into the corruption of a racist society and how the oppressed must act to stop it. Another theme is the importance of self image, as Henry is at war with the face he feels like he has to put on, and the face everyone else expects him to put on. Lastly, the play gives us a theme of the importance of community, as Henry as a large group of friends and family that support each other through tough times, and expand when they meet people like George and Alice who work to understand and help them.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Without family, it's almost like Henry and the boys had no other motivation to get out of jail. Henry's family is very close knit, and he seems to be rather obedient and protective of his family, as he watches out for Lupe and Rudy. Dolores seems to be a mother figure to all, even welcoming Della into her home. Henry's family seems to be his voice of reason and he strives to make them proud, while Smiley leaves for Arizona so he can take care of his family.